Panel probes secrecy of NYPD records in fatal chokehold case

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court has heard arguments for and against releasing the disciplinary records of the officer at the center of Eric Garner's chokehold death.

The New York Post (http://nyp.st/2jd7a5C) reports that one judge on the panel asked Thursday why jurists' disciplinary records are public but not officers'.

A lower court judge has ordered the records' release.

But lawyers for Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh) appealed. They cite a 40-year-old state civil rights law that allows the withholding of records used to evaluate the performance of police, firefighters and jail guards.